Slope indicator



Nov; 18, 1941. J. o. CORNELL 2,263,163

SLOPE INDICATOR Filed Oct. 2, 1940 I M F/U/ 20 I E\% ll J es carfle I rI I k A By A iiorney Inventor Patented Nov. 18, 1941 SLOPE INDICATORJames 0. Cornell, Falmouth, Ky.

Application October 2, 1940, Serial No. 359,422

, 1 Claim.

The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements inindicators designed for use by grading contractors and others inbuilding uniform slopes on embankments, excavations and the like and hasfor its primary object to provide a spirit level attachable to a stringthat may be extended along the slopeline during construction, atintervals, tokeep the line of slope within the desired predeterminedslope limit. The spirit level has an elongated arm at one end withnotches at intervals for the purpose of finding the predetermined slopeor grade.

A further object is, to provide a device of this character which may beeasily and quickly set up in the desired position with respect to theslope and which at the same time is simple and practical inconstruction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing'forming part hereof wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure 1 is asectional view through a bank showing the indicator mounted in positionrelative thereto,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the indicator,

Figure 3 is an Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on aline 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates a bank which it is desired to grade and thenumeral 6 designates the grade or slope indicator generally which issupported on astring 1 extending from a lower post 8 and upper post 9.

The indicator comprises a spirit level II] mounted in an elongated baseII and at one end of which rises a short hanger member 12 having anupwardly inclined slotted opening [3 formed in one edge thereof forhanging on the string 1 and at the opposite end of which is a similarhanger designated at M. At the bottom end of end elevational Viewthereof, and

the hanger I4 is a hinge member I5 to which is hingedly attached arelatively long upstanding hanger member l6. One edge of the hangermember I6 is provided with vertically spaced upwardly inclined slottedopenings l1 adjacent to each of which the slope scale designated at! isdisplayed.

The slotted openings I! arelikewise adapted.

to receive the string 1 at a point above the lower hanger, I2, asillustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. In the operation of the device,presuming there is a fill to be made adjacent the bank to level the sameto a predetermined slope from the shoulder to the original ground at aratio of 2 to 1, the string is inserted in the proper slotted openingsindicated on the hanger I6 and the stake 8 set in the proper position sothat the spirit level will be supported in a true horizontal plane. Theposition of the string will thenindicate the extent of fill to be made.

A spring clip 19 secured to the fixed member l4 engages one edge of thepivoted hanger l6 tosecure the latter in an upright position.

When the indicator is not in use the hanger member l6 may be swung underthe base ll of the spirit level into the dotted line position as shownin Figure 2 of the drawing, and secured by a second spring clip 26attached to the base ll, whereby the same may be conveniently carried inthe pocket of a person.

It is believed the details of construction, manner of use and advantagesof the device will be readily understood from the foregoing withoutfurther detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is-- A slope indicatorcomprising a spirit level, an elongated base for the level, a pair ofsubstantially fixed hangers secured to the ends of the base inupstanding parallel relation, a pivoted hanger attached to one of saidfixed hangers and rising above the latter, and adapted for swinging intoa position flatwise against the base, each of said hangers havingupwardly inclined notches in an edge thereof adapted to receive asupporting rope, and said notches of the pivoted hanger havingindicating indicia adjacent thereto.

JAMES 0. CORNELL,

